Displaying and dispensing means for narrow fabrics



June 1, 1937. 2,082,490

DISPLAYING AND DISPENSING MEANS FOR NARROW FABRICS I B. J. GOLDSMITH Filed Oct. 28, 1936 3 Sheets$heetw 1- M Rm Y on E TL N NO R m w m m M n Y a B m HM 0\ 4% F. #F M June 1, 1937 B. J. GOLDSMITH 2,082,490-

DISPLAYING AND DISPENSING MEANS FOR NARROW FABRICS 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 28, 1956 INVENTOR .BER TRHM 1/. G OLDSM/ TH BY l l. 4340A;

Fl 5 1 0; ATTORNEY June 1, 1937. B. J. GOLDSMITH DISPLAYING AND DISPENSING MEANS FOR NARROW FABRICS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 28, 1956 INVENTOR I04 BERT/mm J. oLasM/rh! ATTORNEY atented June I, 1%37 DISPLAYING AND DISPENSING MEANS son 4 NARROW FABRICS Bertram .l. Goldsmith, New York, N. Y., assignor to General Ribbon Mills, Ina, New York, N. Y" a corporation of Pennsylvania Application Gctober 28,

M Claims.

The present invention relates to means for displaying and dispensing narrow fabrics, such as ribbons, bindings, tapes, etc., which, for convenience in reference will be hereinafter referred to as ribbons. The invention is also concerned with display and dispensing containers for such fabrics.

In many retail stores, ribbon rolls are arranged in a plurality of compartments, portions of the 1 rolls being unwound, for displaying a relatively large number of diiferent kinds of ribbons, such as ribbons of different widths, colors and materials. Said compartments usually comprise vertical partition walls, usually of plate glass, said walls being held in spaced relation by means of rectangular blocks, usually of wood, disposed at the bottom of the compartments and constituting the bottom walls thereof. The ribbon rolls or the mass of unwound ribbon are supported on these blocks. One object of the present invention is to eliminate the blocks heretofore used for spacing the partition walls, and a feature of the invention is the provision of ribbon packages or containers for ribbons which in addition to their usual function have the function of the above mentioned blocks.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for displaying and dispensing ribbons on a store counter having a plurality of compartments or sub-divisions which are defined wholly or partly by the ribbon containers, thereby obviating the use of plate glass or similar partition walls.

Another objectof the invention is the provision of a dispensing container for ribbons provided with a display compartment directly associated therewith.

A yet further object of the invention is generally to improve counter or similar means for the display and dispensing of a plurality of ribons.

The above objects of the invention and other objects ancillary thereto will best be understood from the following description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the present-specification.

In the drawings: Fig. 11s a perspective view of a part of a counter display arrangement embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the compartments illustrated in Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of ribbon containers,. showing respectively two different forms of ribbon windings, parts of the contain.-

1936, Serial No. 107,989

ers being broken away for the sake of clearness of illustration;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing another form of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a ribbon container which may be used in the ribbon display and dispensing arrangement illustrated in Fig. 5, part of the container being broken away for the sake of clearness of illustration;

Figs. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of F1 %ig. 8 is a view of another form of container which may be used in the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fi 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 9 showing a modified construction of the container illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of a part of a counter display arrangement illustrating another form of the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another form of ribbon package which may be utilized in accordance with the present invention, part of the container being broken away for the purposes of illustration;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of yet another form of ribbon package which may be utilized in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 14.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the ribbon display and dispensing means embodying the present invention comprises, as here shown, the usual store counter or table III which constitutes a support for the ribbon display and dispensing compartments defined by plate glass partition walls 02 and I4 which are disposed in vertical position and in proper compartment defining relation. The compartment arrangement thus far described is at present in wide use, but in such arrangements wooden blocks, which correspond to the shape of and which fit said compartments, are disposed therein for holding the partition walls I 2 and M in the relation shown, and the ribbon rolls or masses of same in non-wound condition are supported on such blocks for displaying the ribbon in each compartment. A feature of the present invention resides in the elimination of the blocks heretofore used for spacing said partition walls and in utilizing instead the ribbon packages or containers l6. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the containers for the ribbon are each provided with a top opening I8 for the passage of the ribbon web 20 supplied from the ribbon roll or winding disposed in said containers, and in accordance with the usual practice, a length of the web is withdrawn from the ribbon winding within said container and is arranged on the top of the latter, as illustrated at 22 in one of the compartments of the counter shown in Fig. 1.

The containers and theribbon windings disposed therein, as illustrated in Fig'sI'B and 4, may be utilized in the above described arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Said containers may be made of any suitable material, preferably cardboard, and as here shown, comprise rectangular covers 24 in which the opening I8 is formed for the passage of the ribbon. A frame member or drawer 26 is slidable in the cover 24 for confining the ribbon winding. Said frame member has side walls 28 and end walls 30. If desired, a bottom may be provided for said frame forming a complete drawer construction, but the bottomless frame member is preferred for the purpose of the present invention.

The ribbon windings may be of any suitable form, but it is preferred that said windings be such that the ribbon web may be progressively '30 withdrawn therefrom as the ribbon is dispensed, while the winding or ribbon roll is stationary and without twisting the web. In my application, Serial No. 107,988 filed concurrently herewith, I have shown and described several forms of ribbon put-ups or windings of such character that the ribbon web may be withdrawn from the winding in non-wound condition and substantially free from twist. In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated generally two different types of windings of this character, said windings being fully described in my above mentioned application. It will be understood, however, that while the windings for producing non-twisted webs are preferred, other types of windings, such as ordinary rolls, for example, may be utilized in the display means of the present invention.

In accordance with another form of the invention and in the display arrangement illustrated in Fig. 5, the glass partition walls are eliminated and the ribbon display compartments are defined by or formedin the ribbon containers designated generally by the reference numeral -32. As more clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the ribbon container 32 comprises a box 33 having a bottom wall 34 and side walls 36. An inverted box-like member 38 is mounted in the box 36 and is provided with a top wall 40 having an opening 42 forming a passage for the ribbon web 20. Said inverted member 38 snugly fits the box 33 in slidable relation thereto, whereby the ribbon winding may be held within the box 33, and is removable for replenishing the ribbon supply. It will be observed that the walls 36 of the box 33 extend a substantial distance beyond the 5 top 40 of the inner or inverted member 38 thereby defining with said top 40 a compartment 44 for the display of a length of ribbon. Thus, as illus-' trated in Fig. 5, when a plurality of the containers 32 are disposed in juxtaposition, the rib- 7 bon display counter or table is provided with a plurality of compartments 44 for the display and dispensing of ribbons of different kinds The display arrangement illustrated in Fig. 5

is by no means dependent upon the specific con- 7 tainers 32, although the latter. are preferred.

'I'hus, for example, in lieu of the containers 32 there may be utilized containers 46 of the construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. As here shown, the container 46 comprises a box 48 having a ribbon supply compartment 50, in which the ribbon winding is contained, and a display compartment 52 for a length of the ribbon web 20. The compartment 53 is defined by a side wall 54 of the box 48, by the'bottom wall 56, by an intermediate partition wall 58 and by a top wall 60 which extends between one of the side walls 54 and the partition wall 58. The ribbon display compartment 52 is defined by three'side walls 54of the box and by said partition wall 58.

Said compartment 52 is provided with a false bottom 62. As illustrated in Fig. 9, the opening 6| for the passage of the ribbon from the compartment 50 is in the top wall 69, but as illustrated in Fig. 10, the opening for the passage of the ribbon from the winding compartment 50 to the display compartment 52 may be formed in the partition wall 58, said opening being here designated by the reference character 63.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, the arrangement is such that the glass partition walls are eliminated and the ribbon display-compartments are defined by the ribbon containers without, however, providing said display compartments within the containers themselves. Thus, as here shown, a plurality of ribbon containers 10 of any suitable. form, as for example that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 as illustrative of containers l6, are arranged on the top of the counter or table In and are supported thereby. Said containers are disposed with their openings 12 in one of the vertically disposed container walls and are, as here shown, arranged so that the supply of each display compartment 14 is derived from two of the containers. sired, wooden blocks I6 may be arranged for holding the container 10 in compartment defining relation, although the use of such blocks may be dispensed with, or in lieu of blocks, folded cardboard members to provide false bottoms for such'compartments may be utilized instead of the wooden blocks.

Figs. 13 and 14 show two other forms of ribbon packages which may be used to advantage, more particularly in the form of the invention and display arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, it being understood that the packages here shown may be substituted for the packages IS in said arrangement. The package 80 illustrated ii. Fig. 13

comprises a suitable container 82 in which a ribbon roll 84 is mounted for rotation. Said container is provided with an opening 86 through which the ribbon web 20 from the roll 84 may be withdrawn'for dispensing and display purposes. The ribbon is in the form of a traversing winding and is disposed on a spool having the spool heads 88 which are journalled for rotation in bearings 81 secured to the inner surfaces of the end walls 89 of said container. A characteristic of the ribbon package 80 is that said package has a minimum'height which is made possible by providing a roll of relatively small diameter. Thus, when the packages 80 are disposed in the compartments illustrated in Fig. 1 a recess is provided in each compartment above the top wall 82 of the container 80 for arranging a quantity of the ribbon for display purposes. The ribbon package 90, illustrated in Fig. 14, comprises a suitable container 92 in which a ribbon roll is disposed for rotation about a pin 96 fixed to the bottom, wall 98 of said container.

If debe observed that the package 90 is of narrow height and when disposed in any of the compartments illustrated in Fig. 1, a recess will be provided in said compartment above the top wall 92 of the container 90 thereby providing a 1 space in each compartment for the display of the ribbon.

It is thus seen that the above described constructions are well adapted to accomplish the objects of the present invention. The containers utilized for the purposes of this invention are preferably those in which the ribbon is packaged by the manufacturer. Said containers are therefore preferably made of cardboard or other suitable material customarily utilized for packaging purposes. Said containers may, however,

be made of more permanent material, such as wood or metal. While I have shown several embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that the latter is capable of other embodiments, and that certainchanges in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made for the .means and devices illustrated herein. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited precisely to the present disclosure, except as may be required by the appended claims and the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics and which comprises a counter or other support and a plurality of compartments defined by vertical walls, a plurality of containers of such fabrics mounted within said compartments and engaging said walls to retain them in vertical position, said containers being disposed below the upper edges of said walls to thereby provide display chambers above said containers and having top openings through which the fabrics may be withdrawn for dispensing or display purposes while the containers are in said wall retaining position.

2. In means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics and which comprises a counter or other support and a plurality of compartments defined by vertical partition walls, a

plurality of containers of such fabrics disposed within said compartments below the upper edges of said walls to thereby provide display chambers above said containers and serving to retain said walls in vertical position, said containers having top openings through which the fabrics may be withdrawn for dispensing or display purposes while the containers are in said compartments.

3. Means for dispensing and displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising a container having a fabric supply compartment and a fabric display compartment, said supply compartment having an opening through which the fabric may be withdrawn for dispensing the fabric or for arranging the same in said display compartment, said display compartment being positioned above said supply compartment, said compartments having side walls common thereto, said supply compartment having a top wall in which said opening is provided and which constitutes the bottom wall of said display compartment.

4. Means for dispensing and displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising a container having a fabric supply compartment and a fabric display compartment, said supply compartment having an opening through which the fabric may be withdrawn for dispensing the fabric or for arranging the same in said display compartment, said display compartment being positioned above said supply compartment, said supply compartment having a top wall in which said opening is provided and which constitutes the bottom wall of said display compartment.

5. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising a plurality of containers of such fabrics located adjacent each other, each provided with a dispensing opening, and mounted upon a support, wall means forming a display compartment for each container to receive the material dispensed therefrom, at least one wall of the aforesaid container constituting a wall portion of said display compartment.

6. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising a plurality of containers of such fabrics located adjacent each other, each provided with a dispensing opening, and mounted upon a support, wall means forming a display compartment for each container to receive the material dispensed therefrom, at least one wall of the aforesaid container constituting a bottom wall portion of said display compartment.

7. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising a plurality of containers of such fabrics located adjacent each other, each provided with a dispensing opening, and mounted upon a support, wall means forming a display compartment for each container to receive the material dispensed therefrom, at least one wall of the aforesaid container constituting a wall portion of said display compartment, said dispensing opening being located in said wall portion.

8. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising a plurality of containers of such fabrics located adjacent each other, each provided with a dispensing opening, and mounted upon a support, wail means forming a display compartment for each container to receive the material dispensed therefrom, at least one wall of the aforesaid container constituting a bottom wall portion of said display compartment, said dispensing opening being located in said wall portion.

9. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising a plurality of containers of such fabrics located adjacent each other, each provided with a dispensing opening, and mounted upon a support, wall means forming a display compartment for each container located tbereabove to receive the material dispensed therefrom, at least one wall of the aforesaid container constituting a bottom wall portion of said display compartment.

10. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising a. plurality of containers of such fabrics located adjacent each other, each provided with a d spensing opening, and mounted upon a support, wall means forming a display compartment for each container to receive the material dispensed therefrom, at least one wall of the aforesaid container constituting a bottom wall portion of said display compartment, the fabric in each container being wound on a core, and said core being. rotatably mounted in its container.

11. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising a plurality of containers of such fabrics located adjacent each other, each provided with a dispensing opening, and mounted upon a support, play compartment for each container to receive the material dispensed therefrom, at least one wall of the aforesaid container constituting a bottom wall portion of said display compartment, the fabric in each container being wound on a core, and said core being rotatably mounted'in its containen'with the axis of rotation of said core parallel to the bottom of said container.

12. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising a plurality of containers of such fabrics located adjacent each other, each provided with a dispensing opening, and mounted upon a support, wall means forming a display compartment for each container to receive the material dispensed therefrom, at least one wall of the aforesaid container constituting a bottom wall portion of said display compartment, the fabric in each container being wound on a core, and said core being rotatably mounted in its container with the axis of rotation of said wall means forming a dls-- core at rightangles to, the bottom of said container.

13. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising a plurality of containers of such fabrics located adjacent each other, each provided with a dispensing opening, and mount- -ed upon a support, wall means forming a display compartment for each container to receive the material dispensed therefrom, at least one wall of the aforesaid container constituting a wall portion of said display compartment, said wall forming means of each display compartment being integral at the sides thereof with the container associated therewith.

14. Means for displaying ribbons or other narrow fabrics comprising a plurality of containers of such fabrics located adjacent each other, each provided with a dispensing opening, and mounted upon a support, wall means forming a display compartment for each container, to receive the material dispensed therefrom, at least one wall of the aforesaid container constituting a bottom wall portion of said display compartment, said wall forming means of each display compartment being integral at the sides thereof with the container associated therewith.

BEBTRAM J. GOLDSMITH. 

